1.
blind imitation; mindless mimicry
Imitating someone else superficially, without understanding the reason or substance behind what is copied. Always used disparagingly.
それはただの猿真似だ。
That's just mindless imitation.
人の猿真似ばかりしていてはだめだ。
You shouldn't just blindly copy others all the time.
成功例を猿真似するだけでは、自分の店には合わない。
Merely copying a success story without thought won't suit your own shop.
Literally "monkey mimicry." Refers to imitating others superficially, without grasping the meaning or purpose behind what is copied. Always disparaging. The verb form 猿真似をする / 猿真似する is common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 人の猿真似をする: to mindlessly copy others
- 猿真似にすぎない: to be nothing but blind imitation
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 物真似: impersonation; mimicry — neutral; often a performance skill, such as imitating a celebrity
- 模倣: imitation — neutral and formal; copying as such, without the negative tone